The next edition of the Initiative for coal regions in transition's Annual Political Dialogue, held on 24-25 June in Konin (Poland), is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Wielkopolska Region, the City of Konin and the Regional Development Agency in Konin, and takes place under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The agenda is available below.

Registrations are currently open, so secure your spot by 10 June to attend in person! 

REGISTER

AGENDA

If your registration has already been approved, please proceed promptly with your travel and accommodation arrangements to benefit from preferential rates with the recommended hotels (provided in the practical information for registered on-site participants).

We look forward to seeing you!

TARGET is a joint initiative by the European Commission (DG ENER) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), supporting energy transition projects in EU coal+ regions through flexible, early-stage assistance. Open to applicants at any time, with no project size limits, TARGET prioritises initiatives with high added value. Support ranges from tailored expert advice for project preparation, developing project pipelines to capacity building. 

TARGET is now calling for applications from coal+ regions to assess their economic opportunities and challenges for the transition to a green economy and energy system, with the aim to contribute to the region’s improved competitiveness and attracting investments, along with deployment of clean and energy efficient solutions. EIB assistance may include an in-depth analysis of a region’s barriers and challenges to transition and an assessment of the region’s potential and barriers for the uptake of clean and renewable energy.

For more details on the programme, interested coal+ regions are invited to reach out to target@eib.org.

Stay tuned for the next issue of the newsletter for further information on upcoming TARGET activities!

The European Commission’s Initiative for coal regions in transition is participating in the European Sustainable Energy Week! We are hosting a session titled “Transforming coal regions for a clean and competitive future” in Brussels on 11 June, from 14:30 to 16:00.

The session will examine how coal+ regions are addressing the challenge of decarbonising energy-intensive industries while ensuring continued competitiveness.

Join us to hear insights on innovative regional approaches for transformation from experts from the European Commission, Wuppertal Institute, Fundacja Europa Transformacja Energetyczna, GravitHy, and IndustriAll.

Register here.

The Just Transition Platform (JTP) is currently running a call for region-to-region or expert-to-region exchanges via JTPeers Exchange. This peer-to-peer programme aims to build capacity, share best practices, and develop solutions for Just Transition Fund (JTF) territories in the implementation of the just transition. During the exchanges (some fully virtual, others designed as in-person visits), selected regional stakeholders explore mutual challenges and draw upon their own knowledge and lived experience to collectively identify potential solutions and ways forward to implement the just transition in their respective JTF territories.

Apply for JTPeers Exchange for individual or joint applications by 27 April 2025, 23:00 CET!

Please refer to the call for expression of interest site to read more about the types of support provided
and frequently asked questions. You may also reach out directly at JTPeers@justtransitionplatform.eu.

• A new publication from START technical assistance delivery, explores ways to cultivate public acceptance of renewables to change 'Not' to 'Please In My Backyard".

• In April 2025, Finland shut down its last major coal plant, almost completing its coal phase-out. Wind power now provides 25% of electricity, while coal has dropped to under 1% of the energy mix. Driven by legislation banning coal, and strong political buy-in, Finland is cutting emissions and lowering energy costs through renewables.

• Coal regions can register to an in-person workshop organised by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) and EURACOAL on 15 May 2025 in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Poland. The workshop highlights the role of the EU's Research Fund for Coal and Steel in supporting a just transition and raising awareness of its impact on former coal regions under the European Green Deal.